Free is a good price – especially when it comes to admission to some of Vancouver’s top attractions and facilities.

Vancouver residents can now enjoy the best of Vancouver – at no charge – through the new Vancouver Inspiration Pass, which opens the door to the city’s most popular attractions, performing arts, recreation facilities, and heritage, arts and culture venues.

And all it takes to borrow the new pass is a Vancouver Public Library card.

“In a city consistently voted among the best and most liveable in the world, we’re inviting residents to rediscover why,” says Mayor Gregor Robertson, who launched the pass this morning at a special event at VPL’s central library downtown.

“We want to promote the vibrant cultural, recreational and learning activities our city has to offer, and make these experiences accessible to every resident, regardless of income,” he says.

Performers and mascots joined the mayor, civic officials and partners to announce the Vancouver Inspiration Pass program, a collaboration of VPL, the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Park Board and 18 Vancouver- and UBC-based organizations.

It’s the first pass of its kind in Metro Vancouver, and it offers free admission to top attractions including:

Vancouver Aquarium

Science World

Vancouver Art Gallery

Vancouver Bach Choir

Vancouver Opera

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

UBC Museum of Anthropology

Along with the Park Board’s many fitness centres, swimming pools, skating rinks, pitch and putt golf courses, and botanical gardens.

“VPL has a long history of helping transform, build and support communities – and this new program is very much in keeping with that,” says board chair Catherine Evans.

“We’re delighted to help open the door for residents – among them new immigrants and lower-income families – to experience Vancouver’s great arts, culture, recreation and science and nature venues,” she says.

How the Vancouver Inspiration Pass works:

once a year, Vancouver residents aged 14 and older can use their VPL library card to borrow the pass – which allows admission for a family of two adults and up to four children, or a group of up to six young people (aged 14 to 18 years old) to participating venues.

Passes can be redeemed, as well, for a limited number of seats at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera and the Vancouver Bach Choir.
“Recreation is a major contributor to community health and wellness, so I’m very pleased to announce our partnership in this program,” says Vancouver Park Board chair Sarah Blyth.A total of 120 passes will be available for borrowing every two weeks starting Nov. 1. Fifteen passes will be available at VPL’s central library downtown; five passes will be available at each VPL branch. Patrons can reserve the passes starting today, Oct. 24.

“The pass is a creative way of allowing families and youth to enjoy cultural and recreational activities that they might not otherwise be able to access.”

>> Residents can learn more about the Vancouver Inspiration Pass program at VPL.ca/InspirationPass or by visiting any Vancouver Public Library branch